P.E.T. Imaging

The Nuclear Medicine Department at Athens Regional Medical Center is pleased to announce the addition of PET (Positron Emission Tomography) to our diagnostic services. Athens Regional has agreed to purchase a PET/CT Reveal RT scanning system from CTI Corporation of Knoxville, Tennessee.

PET/CT scanner provides the functional information that only PET can provide combined with the anatomical information from CAT scan. The fused images created by the combination scanner better enables the doctors to locate and properly treat a variety of diseases. Oncology has been the primary focus of PET imaging. Lung, esophageal, lymphoma, melanoma, and head and neck cancers are best imaged by PET. Breast cancer is now FDA cleared for follow-up treatment using PET.

PET/CT data can be used to help plan radiation therapy. It has been shown that PET significantly changes the radiation therapy plan in 25% of patients. PET/CT scans can also be used to assess the staging of many cancers and to check the progress of treatment.

This new technology to is offered to Northeast Georgia from the new Medical Services Building at Athens Regional Medical Center. The PET/CT scanner is located between the Radiation Oncology Department and the new Breast Health Center.